Police say 26-year-old Robert Dingeldein stole the badges Oct. 30 when he was being held by Irwin police for questioning in a domestic dispute.

Police say 26-year-old Robert Dingeldein stole the badges Oct. 30 when he was being held by Irwin police for questioning in a domestic dispute.

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Updated: 6:30 PM EST Feb 8, 2016

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WEBVTT EXPLANATION HE TOLD TO ASHLIE HARDWAY. REPORTER: THE SUSPECT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SIT IING IN THIS CHAIR WAITING TO BE QUESTIONED BY POLICE FOR A DOMESTIC INCIDENT WHERE HE WASN'T EVEN FOUND TO BE AT FAULT. BUT INSTEAD OF JUST WAITING HIS TURN INVESTIGATORS SAY HE WENT THROUGH THIS CLOSET AND STOLE ANTIQUE POLICE BADGES. ROBERT DINGELDEIN WASN'T EVEN IN TROUBLE IN OCTOBER WHEN IRWIN PLACE HAD HIM WAITING IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHICH IS INSIDE THE SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS OFFICERS DROVE HIM HOME SOMETHING SEEMED OFF. >> THE OFFICER HEARD AN ODD SOUND, DID A FRISK AND DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD STOLEN AND DESTROYED AN ABG TEA ANTIQUE PHOTOGRAPH OF SOME POLICEMEN. REPORTER: NOTHING REALLY CAME OF IT UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN A FRIEND APPARENTLY WENT TO ROBERT DINGELDEIN'S HOUSE AND FOUND THESE OLD POLICE BADGES, WHICH OFFICERS MISSED DURING THE PAT-DOWN A MONTH PRIOR. >> I RECEIVED THEM WHEN I -- REPORTER: YOU RECEIVED THEM? YEAH. REPORTER: DID YOU TAKE THEM? NO, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THEM UP. REPORTER: GIVE THEM UP TO WHO? TO THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY WERE ASKING FOR THEM. REPORTER: NOT WORTH A BUNDLE OF MONEY ABOUT $300 BUT THE BADGES AND PINS ARE PART OF IRWIN'S HISTORY. 25-YEAR-OLD ROBERT DINGELDEIN TOLD THEM HE TOOK THEM FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHILE WAITING TO BE QUESTIONED BUT HE DIDN'T ADMIT THAT TO US. HOW DID THEY MAKE IT OUT OF THE BOROUGH BUILDING? I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE. REPORTER: YOU DIDN'T TAKE THEM FROM THE BOROUGH BUILDING? NO, NO. REPORTER: HOW DID YOU COME INTO POSSESSION OF THEM? >> UM, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS. REPORTER: ADDITIONALLY THE CHIEF SAYS HIS OFFICERS HAVE ALL BEEN ADVISED TO NO LONGER LEAVE ANYONE, VICTIM, SUSPECT OR OTHERWISE IN A ROOM AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNSUPERVISED.

Man stole Irwin police badges while held in office for questioning

Police say 26-year-old Robert Dingeldein stole the badges Oct. 30 when he was being held by Irwin police for questioning in a domestic dispute.